New Kincardine Physicians (Photos provided by Municipality of Kincardine)
The Municipality of Kincardine says its physician recruitment has resulted in multiple hires.
The municipality says Dr. Janine Van Veghel, Dr. Owen Montpellier, and Dr. Allegro Reeves are coming to the area to practice family medicine. These new doctors bring Kincardine closer to its goal of giving every resident access to a family physician and needed support to the local hospital’s regular services in the emergency room.
Veghel graduated medical school from Dalhousie University in May 2022 and is currently completing a medical residency. The municipality says they will potentially be able to practice family medicine as soon as August 2024.
Veghel says, “I am so excited for the opportunity to return home to practice medicine once I finish my residency training. My partner was able to secure employment in the local energy sector, which make committing to Kincardine a reality for our family. I’m grateful to the municipality and our incredible community for their support.”
Montpellier graduated medical school from the Northern Ontario School of Medicine in May 2021, and are also completing their residency. They have the potential to practice medicine as early as January 2024.
Both of these physicians will join Reeves, who announced recruitment in May 2020. They will potentially be able to start practicing in the municipality in July 2024. They are working on completing their residency with the University of Western Ontario in Hanover.
Dr. Angela Cavanagh says, “we are incredibly excited to have these doctors joining our team of physicians here in Kincardine. We appreciate the challenging work our physician recruiter and the Kincardine Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee are doing. Their successful recruitment of more excellent physicians for our community is incredible.”
The Kincardine Family Health Organization currently has 10 working physicians providing primary care for 14,500 patients.
The municipality says a full complement is closer to 15 physicians whose work includes ER shifts, provision of hospital inpatient coverage, retirement home care, pregnancy and baby wellness programs, palliative care, memory clinics, mental health management, and care for patients in all stages of life.
Chair of the Kincardine Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee Doug Kennedy says he believes there is a bright future for physician recruitment and retention in the municipality.
“It’s taken some great teamwork between our committee and the doctors to help put us on a great path for recruitment,” says Kennedy.
In 2014 The Society of United Professionals bought two homes to accommodate physicians.
